Reset Your Life Day 14: Imagine Your Perfect Day

This post is Day 14 of the 31 Days to Reset Your Life Challenge. Learn more and sign up for the program here.

After thinking about 100 things that make you happy, it can be useful to also think about how you can bring forth more of those things into your everyday life. Today’s assignment takes the 100 things exercise to the next level by allowing you to imagine them incorporated into your perfect day.

Day 14: Imagine Your Perfect Day

Think about your life as it is right now. What would be a perfect day for you? What would you be doing? What would you NOT be doing? Who would be with you? What would your perfect day look, smell, taste, feel and sound like? Read through your 100 things list again and then take 30 minutes to jot down your first thoughts (don’t think about it too much, just write!) about your perfect day. Just like in your ideal life narrative, keep your sentences in present tense. Also, remember to keep your perfect day within a 24-hour period to make it seem as real as possible for you.

Follow-up questions for reflection:

  1. How often do you have what you would consider “perfect days?”
  2. What can you do to make sure you have more of them?

Below is my perfect day. I was actually surprised by the things I wrote, because I thought my perfect day would involve me going more places, seeing more people and doing more stuff. But I suppose it was the introvert in me coming out. My true authentic self is actually very inward vs. outward.

I wake up early and go for a walk around the neighborhood with my iPod, listening to jazz or gospel. I notice little things as I walk, kids running by, new buildings being put up, birds in flight. I’m contemplative and a deep spirit of gratitude surrounds me as I think about the day ahead. I have absolutely nothing to do today. There are no demands on my time. I am taking myself on a date to my favorite restaurant for breakfast and then going to spend a few hours at the bookstore or a library. I meet a friend for lunch and coffee downtown and then do some writing. In the afternoon, I head to the grocery store or the farmer’s market, armed with a new recipe I’m excited about making this evening. I get home and put on the Isley Brothers as I cook. After dinner, I pop in one of my favorite movies from the 80s or 90s and curl up with dessert and my favorite after-dinner drink: bourbon & coke. Then, I pick up a good book to read in bed until I get sleepy.

When you’re done, please share your “perfect day” with us in the comments! What was the experience like for you as you were describing it?

Note: If you blogged about today’s assignment, please post the link in the comments so we can read it!
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55 comments

  1. Pingback: Preview 2012: What Do You Want to Bring into Your Life Next Year? | Happy Black Woman | Helping Women Design Their Ideal Lives

  2. I will wake up with my bf in our new apartment. We will make love before we start the day. We will make breakfast together and eat. I will Skype with my best friend who now lives in Germany. We will both laugh till our bellies hurt. My bf and I will make a picnic basket and spend the day at the park. We will cuddle and kiss and nap together on the grass. When we get home I will call my Mom to see how her day was. My bf and I will make a dinner from our Julia Child’s cookbook. We will sip wine and dance in the kitchen while the room is filled with delicious smells. We will watch a movie and eat dinner. The table will be lit with candles. After we finish eating we will spoon on the couch and feed each other dessert. We will go to bed and embrace forehead to forehead until we begin to fall asleep. We will kiss each other good night and say I love you.

  4. What are perfect days? It depends on what “YOUR” perfect is. It’s up to you. This exercise was fun. I really got into it and got to use a little of my writing skills.

    http://wp.me/p1D02I-u

  5. This exercise was also fun. It was challenging at first because I would not allow myself to slip into the realm of fantasy but to focus on what I have around me and build my story around that.

    In a nutshell, and believe me it is soooo very descriptive:

    I wake up early, do some yoga, make breakfast, go to a spa, meet the girls for lunch, go to the beach, then end the night at a party dancing everything from salsa to calypso.

    I did realize that I could write a hundred of these perfect day stories so I am vowing to write one for when I don’t have extra cash and none of my friends are available to hang. It will be challenging because I am 80% extrovert but it is worth having a go!

    This exercise is another one of my favorites.

    • Great idea of a perfect day mine was very similar Yoga in the morning meditating on the greatness of life is the perfect start to having a wonderful day and it could not end better then with salsa music.

  6. I wake up at 6.30am energised and ready to start the day. I am focused and positive.

    I make my bed, have shower, get dressed, have breakfast and leave the house at 8.10am

    Throughtout my day i am firm but fair, helpful, co-operative and a team player. I show proffessionalism. I am able to apply lessons i have learnt about the way i react to things when things get difficult.

    At 4.00 i go to MY place at my private tuition business. Its a thriving and successful business with bright, enthusiastic children who want to learn and who have friendly, appreciative parents. My reputation is rock solid and i have to turn clients away because even my waiting list is full. I help children learn and achieve and they are sorry to leave once they are too old (past the age of 12) and i am sorry to see them go.

    When i am finished working i go home and prepare for my daily 30-60 minute walk. As a result i have more energy and sleep better.

    having more energy means i can do my evening activities whether that is practising my piano or reading for self betterment or decluttering some area of my room or working on my business. I am in bed by 11pm

  7. This was a good exercise, as it allowed me to realize that, in the warm weather, many of my days are actually quite close to what I would imagine as my perfect day. However, I live in the North and do not enjoy outdoor winter-time activities. Since that is the case and since a perfect day for me involves doing things outdoors for most of the day in summer time, this indicates that I should probably have plans to relocate to a much warmer climate some time in the future.

  8. Reset Day 14

    It’s a bright sunny day. I’m brewing freshly ground coffee and cooking  
    breakfast for my favorite guy-my son. Music is playing as I cook,  
    probably “good morning” by John Legend or “good mourning” by  
    India.arie.  I’m singing along “good morning to the beginning of a  
    brand new day.” After breakfast, I get dressed and head out to feel  
    kisses of sunshine.  I stop by the library to peruse audiobooks, pick  
    up requests, and see if anything else catches my eye.   I take in a  
    movie or grab lunch with friends, preferably at a place with outdoor  
    dining and enjoy the sisterhood. After lunch I head home for a quick  
    nap but chat briefly with other friends before I sleep.  I wake up  
    rejuvenated and head out for a free concert or to the kitchen to cook  
    a new dish {while having a jam session}  I watch the sunset.  I grab a  
    snack, shower, turn the iPod on, give thanks for the day, think/
    reflect until sleep calls.

    ~Yolanda~

    “Life is like a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you only  
    spend it once.”

  9. I really enjoyed this assignment.

    Here’s my perfect day

    I wake up early and go for an early morning jog in the park, whilst listening to Hip Hop on my iPod. I come home and enjoy a long hot shower. I do my morning devotional and write in my journal. I get ready for my day whilst singing at the top of my voice to Gospel music. On my way to meet up with my boyfriend (MSB)I stop at Starbucks because I’m quite early and order a Toffee Nut Latte to drink in which gives me the chance to read a novel. I meet up with MSB and we go for a delicious brunch, which includes pancakes as well as cocktails. After brunch we go roller-skating at Hyde Park and there’s a festival in the background, so we skate a long to what’s playing on the sound system. After skating we go to a Hotel spa, where we are both pampered, we’re given manicures, pedicures, facials, massages and we enjoy the Jacuzzi. We then meet up with friends at a seafood restaurant, where we have a laugh and experience great food. After the restaurant we all go to the cinema and watch an old school film such as Love Jones whilst eating sweet popcorn and Nachos with cheese. After a long day, we go to a bar have some cocktails then call it a night and get a black cab home. Before parting though, I give MSB a long passionate kiss and a bear hug. Once home, I go through the pictures we had taken throughout the day and thank God for all of the blessings He has blessed me with.

    • Hi Ayo!

      I really enjoyed reading your narrative. It was beautiful! I really most of all, admire your open and comfortable relationship with MSB. I have something similar in my ideal day and can only hope that it becomes a reality :)

      Chan, 22, CT

  10. My lil one and I have days like this at least once a month, we are going to try and make this a regular thing.
    After our early morning walk/cycle, we both get ready for the day. Lil one and I decided the night before what we wanted to eat for breakfast and its a race to see who can make it to the kitchen to start first.
    I’m making the picnic lunch with all our fav foods mostly good with a few not so good, just because we can. Lil one has made a start on the breakfast something simple that i know that they can cope with. Today its crossiants and orange juice. and some fruit love the smell of apples and fresh fruit in the morning :)
    At the beach/park we eat the food that we prepared together watch the clouds in the sky and say what shapes we think they are whilst we hear the other children laughing as they play.
    On route home we pass by family and watch some cartoons. The adults are in the kitchen preping dinner listening to some old school music and having ‘do you remember when…’ moments.
    Lil one goes of the the garden and plays on the trampoline with the cuz, the olds look at them with a knowing smile that we know that was us once :)
    When we get home we read stories and refelx on the day, the time differnce is right to give the grandparents a call and tell them about our day.
    We freshen up and get ready for bed, and smile at each other again as nothing else needs to be said.
    God is good

  13. This was a fantastic exercise, which, along with the Ideal Narrative, has changed the way that I look at my life and possibilities. I have hope again!
    *****************************************************************************
    I wake up calm, having gotten plenty of sleep the night before and feeling refreshed. I spend time in prayer, reading the Bible, worshiping the Lord. I stretch my body with yoga salutations before enjoying a warm breakfast.

    I catch up on news and blogs on my iPad before reviewing notes for a speech I’ll make later in the afternoon.

    I leave my house with enough time to take a scenic drive to the conference where I’m speaking. My assistant will meet me there, and will have set up my merchandise of books, DVDs and CDs.

    People are intrigued and attentive at my speaking engagement. It turns into a lively discussion and everyone walks away with a new perspective.

    I treat staff and colleagues to a nice meal following my speaking engagement (I sold a lot of merechandise today!) We continue our discussion abd I make mental notes of topics I’d like to further explore.

    I return home, spending a few minutes relaxing, perhaps on the couch with the one I love (be it person or animal). I share my day and when applicable, they do the same. (I don’t expect my dog to talk back). If possible, we take a walk to a neighborhood eatery and grab a snack – for me, a fruit smoothie or a cup or cocoa.

    At home, it’s back to work, writing outlines for book chapters and preparing for upcoming speeches or panels. I’m treated to a home cooked meal by my partner and we spend time talking about how to achieve our goals, day by day.

    Before bed, I spend time in meditation, prayer and visualization. Then it’s off to sweet dreams, restful slumber to get up and make the best life.

  14. I really enjoyed this one once I let things flow. I had to wait for the kids to go to sleep, though ;)

    I wake early before my husband and kids and go for my walk. I spend that time talking to my Creator, daydreaming, and reflecting on where I am in life. I stop at my favorite smoothie place and flip through lucky magazine and sketch people sitting at the other tables while I sip on my drink. I stop by the farmer’s market and pick up some fresh food for breakfast and a bouquet of sunflowers. I cook breakfast for the kids and hubby and we laugh and talk about what we will do that day. It’s a beautiful sunny day and the sky is perfectly blue, so we decide to pack lunches and head out to centennial park. The kids play in the fountains and at the playground, hubby gets some reading done and I take pictures of them. As we leave the park, we stop and watch some street performers in front of the CNN center. We head back home, put the kids down for a nap and we talk a little before we’re out too. The kids are spending the night at a friend’s house, so after they awake, we get them ready. After the kids are gone, I head to Antique Row to look for a vintage typewriter and some photographs to include in my artwork. After shopping, I stop at a Peruvian restaurant and order a delicious steak dinner. I sit alone enjoying my own company and thinking of how to incorporate the photographs into my next piece. When I return home, hubby is busy with work, but greets me with a soft kiss and a tight hug. We talk a little and I head to my art studio. I turn on some piano music and get in the zone. After work ,I take a hot shower and me and hubby watch a Ken Burns documentary while we enjoy a little coffee ice cream. We stay up way to late and sleep into the late morning. The kids won’t be back for hours.

  15. Pingback: 31 Days to Reset Your Life: Recap and Reflect | Happy Black Woman | Personal Development for Success in Life, Love & Business

  16. LOL, my perfect day started out with exercise as well! There’s just something energizing and pacifying about an early morning bike ride that I want to begin nearly every day with it.
    From the bike ride, I have plenty of time (no harried morning) to prepare for work which when I get to I am very productive – leaping from task to task.
    Then I have a couple of hours of study time before meeting a friend for coffee at a cute bistro I’ve never been to (I like discovering new restaurants). Finally, the relaxing evening ends after I am asked out by my cutest crush for the weekend.
    Perfect means enjoying the moment and having a solid reason to believe that there is more to come.

    • Perfect means enjoying the moment and having a solid reason to believe that there is more to come. – Love that definition.

  17. Clearly I am still playing catchup with my assignments;-)
    Here is my perfect day:

    It’s Monday morning and I wake up full of energy and ready to start the day. I have my personal devotion, read my Bible, study my Sabbath School lesson and then head to the basement to work out in my home gym (yeah..I can dream…LOL). After my workout I take a shower and then wake up the kids so they can get ready for school. I have worship with them. While they are taking their showers – I prepare breakfast (which we will sit at the table and have together) after which they get dressed – my daughter leaves to take the bus and I drop my son off to school.
    I head to my office to continue working on my magazine (which has become very successful). I have lunch with friends at a great restaurant in Brooklyn around 1pm after which I head back to the office and complete the rest of my tasks for the day.
    I leave the office – pick up my son from school and come home to prepare dinner.
    My kids and I eat dinner at the table (which we do now thankfully) and discuss the days events and what happened at school. After dinner they go to do their homework while I do “stuff” (wash dishes, etc) around the house. We then break for evening worship around 7:30pm, after which they finish up any homework and prepare for bed (showers, etc). After putting them to bed. I spend some time preparing for the next day…have a personal devotion time where I write in my journal and close out the day. Good night:-)

  18. I am a little behind (trying to get current this week), but here is what I will consider a perfect Tuesday. I choose to chose a specific day because depending on the day, certain things/activities could make it perfect.

    I wake up early, meditate and thank God for allowing me to see another day. I meet my Soror either at the gym or the park so that we can train for the 5k. Once we are finish, I head home feeling like I have accomplish alot before 7:30am. Once I am at home, I take a shower, dress and head to work. At work I finish everything that is on my to do list and even get some projects done ahead of time. After work while I am heading to school, I talk to my man on the phone (in a perfect world I would have one – LOL) about our day. Once I arrive at school, I will have all my cases briefed and reading done because I completed it the night before. I will be able to participate with the law professor because I know what he/she is talking about. After class I will brief cases and complete reading and assignments for the next class before heading home. On my drive home, I call my boyfriend so that he can start coming to my place. I take a shower, write in my gratitude journal, watch the view, say a prayer, chat with my man until we fall asleep.

  19. I wake up early around 6.00am, take a shower,say my prayers,have a fruit juice smoothie and head to work. At work, catch up on my correspondence,get tasks done….gets to lunch time, i have a low calorie healthy meal plus my obligatory fruit salad. The Afternoon hours will by having gotten the days work done in the evening i head home, change in my exercise clothes go for a 40mins walk.

    Get back home in high spirits(Exercise gives me a high) take a long bath, say my prayers & play with my niece.Have supper accompanied with Twinnings lemon and ginger tea..sew for two hours and after settle in for the night…its not exactly perfect…but just love a drama/stress free day

  20. Stay up a little later then usual, just to post my perfect day – http://ow.ly/3qCap

    Now I don’t have prefect days often but I try to bits and pieces. For example I plan on having some french toast tomorrow. I also tried to have days off but I feel guilty when take time to do something for me. It seem like “some people” feel like I should be chained to my computer 24/7. Yes I do graphic design work but I am also a human being who need to eat, see family and friends. I wear glasses and sitting in front of the computer for hours take it toll. I just need to be firm with people. I am start having my perfect two-hour at least twice week. I need time for me.

  21. Pingback: Reset Your Life Day 16: Reflect, Comment and Connect | Happy Black Woman | Personal Development for Success in Life, Love & Business

  22. My perfect day was totally different than what I thought was going to be. It’s really a seemingly simple day. But it’s perfect to me -

    I wake up, acknowledging God for giving me another day. I turn and kiss my hubby on the cheek and headtothe bathroom to take a shower. My hubby cooks me a quick breakfast while I get dressed for work. We chit0chat about our daily activities. I leave and he prepares for work. I get to the office to do my job – review projects, meet with other engineers, and discuss concerns with my customers. I leave work and meet a friend at the gym. After my workout, I head home, shower, and prepare dinner. My hubby and I enjoy a nice dinner and conversation. We sit on the couch and watch our favorite shows together. We have our daily devotion and say our nightly prayers. We hold each other and fall asleep.

    • I felt the same way..lot simpler than I thought I was going to be. I really just want to spend quality time with the husband and do my writing as I please.

      • Well I got to get married and step up my game to move up into a management/leadership role at work.
        But at least I’m not in this alone. It really is the little things that will make me happy. I really do hope you are able to get that quality time.

    • This was really nice, LaToya. Even though you thought it was simple, I found it refreshing. It shows that you are capable of having “perfect days” far more often than you thought! : )

  23. My perfect day:

    I wake up early in the morning before the sun rises, my boyfriend sleeping next to me. Trying not to disturb him, I get up and head off to Golden Gate Park for my morning boot camp. I come back home, take a nice leisurely shower while detangling and deep-conditioning my hair. I wake my boyfriend up and we head out to my favorite breakfast spot. We eat a good meal, with some good conversation, and then I head off to my apartment and he heads to his. I sit down in my living room and write out my daily list and spend the rest of the day checking things off. I read my books and magazines, I clean up my apartment, and I spend some time catching up on my DVR. In the evening, I go to the supermarket where I buy all the ingredients I need for my favorite steak dinner. I cook it up and eat it with a couple of glasses of red wine while relaxing on my couch. Later that evening, I get all dolled up for a night out on the town with my boyfriend. We catch a late-night comedy show and then head back to my place for a quiet, more intimate evening… And I think I’ll leave it at that!

    1. I have parts of my perfect day pretty frequently, but it is super rare for me to get everything I need to get done (errands, etc) in a day, in addition to the fun things I want to do. I’d say I get a perfect day once every quarter.

    2. I think I need to just focus on making the most of my time, and also setting realistic expectations about what I can actually get done in a day.

  24. Here is my perfect day!

    Today will be a lovely day! I can already tell. I woke up this morning to my alarm ringer “I Choose” by India.Arie. I said a prayer of thanksgiving, forgiveness, and prosperity, and wrote a bit in my prayer journal. I jumped out of bed and had a wonderful breakfast of scrambled egg whites with cheese, maple-flavored chicken sausage, Crusty Whole Grain bread from Publix, melon, and some wonderful fresh apple juice! I decided to pick up a Bellydance class before noon and do a bit of shopping as well.

    Dance class was amazing and I even got in a Yoga class before leaving the gym. I stopped by the mall on the way home and picked up a new handbag for my mom and the Chanel N°5 Coveted Collection Gift Set. It feels amazing to be able to do for the most important people in my life.

    I’m heading home now. It’s only 4pm, and I feel like some fun with my favorite gal pals. Luckily, we’re all available for dinner and drinks. I plan to throw on my favorite VS bra and panty set, a nice pants romper, and a pair of sandals I found on Aldo’s clearance rack, that show off my pretty pedicure. Gotta make a run for it, so I’ll catch you all later! 

    - KK

    Here is the rest of the assignment: http://keikokaveri.tumblr.com/post/2320973085

  25. Let me see, how I would spend my perfect day? I must be honest, I have never thought about this, but here goes…

    My perfect day would begin with a 7:00 a.m. walk with Mason the Chihuahua. No IPod and no cell phone, just the sounds of the cars and passersby. After our walk, I would make breakfast for me, myself and I. Nothing gets me more excited than going into NYC for leisure instead of work. I would take the train into the City and play tourist – take photos of the people, the buildings, store fronts, etc. and go shopping at a few vintage boutiques. A late lunch would be had at The Pink Tea Cup for some soul food. Then off to a museum, any museum. After the museum I would head home, take a rest and get ready for some night time fun with my home girls. We would hang out at someone’s house, telling funny stories, reminiscing about our high school days and making new memories. A day filled with me time, fun time and friend time is perfect. There are no negative co-workers, no cubicles and no one trying to control me.

    If I could, I would love to make everyday “perfect days”, but I really can’t remember the last time I actually had one. In order to make sure that I have more perfect days, I have to not think about it, but be more spontaneous!

  26. I wake up around 9am after a perfectly restful and rejuvenating sleep. Have some quite time and prayer before getting dressed, having my protein shake and heading off to the gym for a 10am Zumba class with my favorite instructor and a good solid workout. After class, I head home and shower, dress, eat a delicious lunch and leave for my 1pm hot stone massage and adjustment. While I am at home, the kids and I play and giggle before they leave for the park. I give everyone kisses as we part ways.
    When I arrive home, relaxed and energized, hubby and the kids are just getting back from the park and are ready for their naptime. Hubby and I put the kids down and have a little time together before the kids wake up. We talk about the day and laugh and spend a little of our own down time in our room.
    When naptime is over, we go out for a walk and to have dinner at our favorite restaurant, since it’s still quite early, we take the kids to a movie and laugh until we cry. On our way home, my mother calls and asks to keep the kids overnight because she has some fun activities for them to do. They are thrilled and can’t wait to get there.
    Since hubby and I have the rest of the evening to ourselves, we call up some friends and meet for a night of more laughs and good wine. We don’t get home until early the next morning, where we are able to sleep as late as we like before the kids arrive home.

  28. Well so far this has been a fun exercise (though mine is super long and detailed) I stopped by to say that the end of it has seemed to turn into to some sex/romance novel, lmbo…clearly I’ve got some thoughts and desires that want to be let out HAHA! I think I’ll be keeping this one to myself.

    • Breelicious,
      I had to temper mine down a lot, too. Clearly I am a very uh…passionate person. Ha ha!

    • I’m cracking up because at least you thought about adding a passionate element to your perfect day. I only thought it briefly as I wrote mine. Does this mean I think think that exciting element isn’t even possible on a pedecr day for me. I won’t ponder too much, but I do think…hmmm?

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